The White House made an announcement recently regarding President Joe Biden, who currently holds the title of the oldest president in U.S. history. It was revealed that Biden has adopted a new method to manage his sleep apnea condition by using a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine. This news was confirmed by Deputy White House Press Secretary Andrew Bates during a press briefing. Bates stated that Biden has been open about his sleep apnea since 2008 and last night he used a CPAP machine, which is a common treatment for this condition.

President Biden, who is currently 80 years old, publicly acknowledged his sleep apnea in his medical records that were released in 2008. More details about his condition were revealed in his 2019 health records, which mentioned multiple surgeries he had undergone to target his sinus and nasal passages in an effort to alleviate symptoms associated with sleep apnea.

During Biden’s most recent physical examination in 2021, Dr. Kevin O’Connor, the White House’s chief medical officer, highlighted two concerns. Firstly, he observed an increase in the frequency and intensity of Biden clearing his throat and coughing during public speaking engagements. Secondly, he noted a stiffness in Biden’s gait.

The use of a CPAP machine was further confirmed through recent public appearances where Biden was seen with marks on his face, likely from the mask of the machine. A White House official disclosed that Biden started using the CPAP machine in the past few weeks in hopes of improving his sleep quality and overall health and performance.